(Hello people who still read this series! Apologies for the major absence. I have not given up just yet! College has gotten in the way of updating along with my discovery of an OTP that I hold dear to my heart. Bobby Zilch/Chloe Barge ftw! I'll try to keep the updates steady from now on. As always, thank you for the reviews and encouragement!)

Teen Titans © DC Comics

41. Worry

Sometimes, he would not return until days passed, and he was sick with almost grieving worry. Thunder would never exactly show just how frightened he was if his brother was away for a Titans' task for too long, but his mind would conjure so many horrid incidents if Lightning was somehow harmed. Frequently, Robin wanted them to learn how to work with others or by themselves and split up the brothers for differing jobs. Sometimes, they were not even in the same state and had no means of communication, leaving Thunder a silent, still case of frantic emotions.

Whenever he would not hear from Lightning, Thunder could sometimes assume the worst, but he knew better. While younger and brasher, Lightning could very well hold himself in a fight. Lightning could best Thunder at times, and his electrical attacks were varied and powerful. Lightning was one of the fastest Titans, and he could block even the most fearsome of blows with his upper arms. Lightning was a powerful contender, a literal force to be reckoned with, so Thunder kept his chillingly terrified thoughts to himself.

Still, it was an older brother's job to fret over the younger sibling. Lightning was still impetuous and haughty, becoming enraged over the simplest misunderstandings, and with their shared naivety with the "real world," Lightning would sometimes walk straight into traps or become sweet-talked by a villain. Lightning would instantly feel shamed and vengeful with a flare of red to his sallow cheeks, but Thunder feared that one day, Lightning was going to make a mistake that could cost him dearly. Lightning's faults balanced his strengths, and he would make either foolishly awful or confidently swift decisions that would put the mission in either jeopardy or on a victorious route.

This was not one of the latter's times. Thunder was currently pacing back and forth in front of Robin's office, waiting outside of his door. Lightning had gone missing along with Killowat. Evidently, Lightning was tricked into believing that Ding Dong Daddy had "something to show him," causing their capture. Robin was speaking on the phone with phone with the Titans East since they were the ones closest to Lightning's location. He fiddled with his fingers, uncertainly biting down on the inside of his mouth as cold sweat dampened his brow. Taking off his helmet, he wiped his forehead with his upper arm, not wanting to appear so flustered, but his heart raced as if performing laps in his rib cage.

The door slid upon, and Robin motioned for Thunder to come inside. Quickly obeying, Thunder frantically asked if his twin was all right.

"Mas and Menos have recovered your brother and Killowat. Bumblebee, Speedy, and Aqualad are bringing Daddy down as we speak. Apparently, he wanted to use them as a car battery," Robin explained.

Confusion crossed the elemental's brow. He assumed cars ran on oil deposits. Discarding the mental image of his brother and Killowat being stuffed into that small "oil hole," Thunder asked, "But they will be all right?"

Robin nodded. "They haven't been injured at all, but they'll be staying with the Titans East tonight to recover. If you want, they said you can pick Lightning up tomorrow."

Exhaling a relieved sigh, Thunder bowed his head graciously. "Thank you, Robin. I will do as you say."

"Before you go, there's something I just wanna discuss with you."

"With Thunder?" He pointed at himself curiously, a tint of mild panic touching his features.

Robin grinned, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't worry. I'm not going to berate you or anything like that. I just want to talk about your brother's, well, his decision to trust Daddy when he knows that guy's a villain. Thunder, this happens often."

"I have seen if myself, and I, too, am guilty of it. We are both naive and still learning. I will fault our upbringing for that. We truly still do not understand how this world 'works' as you say. Being in the clouds for so long-"

"I know, I know. I'm not asking for excuses. I was wondering if, maybe to help you to becoming more acclimated to the culture down here, maybe you two would like to join a team just for a little while. I know you both like staying in the sky, but it would be better for both of you to gain some people and city experience. That way, you two won't be so easily deceived and kept your cool under pressure."

The idea hit him as a surprise, eyes widening at the notion. Thunder had always liked the notion of joining a team, but he was not so keen if Lightning would comply with authority. He could only ponder how Lightning would react if someone dared to give him an order. He recalled how Lightning struck him down when they encountered the Titans, biting down on his lip.

"If you're worried about Lightning," Robin interjected, cutting into his mulling thoughts, "I think you should let him decide for himself if he would like to join in on this. Lightning is hot-headed, and I mean hot-headed. He likes to show off, right?"

"Unfortunately, but he has become...somewhat humbler?"

Robin smirked slightly at Thunder's uncertain expression. "Well, have Lightning make his own decision. Thunder, sometimes I think you worry too much."

"Well, he is my only family," Thunder informed, crossing his arms over his stomach. "I do not wish to lose him under any circumstances."

"I get what you mean about family. Say if we lost Raven. I honestly wouldn't know what to do with myself. I feel the same for every Titan across the world. I would try to move on, but I'd still keep their memory with me. For you, I get it, too." Robin's glance lowered towards his feet, eyes shutting behind his mask. "I also lost a younger brother."

"Wh-what? You..." Sensing Robin's solemnity, Thunder bowed his head respectfully and quietly replied, "I am sorry for your loss."

"I just hope you never know that pain, Thunder, but you have to trust your brother sometimes. While you two have a lot of freedom, sometimes, you need to know when to restrict him and when to give him control." Returning to his calm disposition, he shrugged his shoulders back and returned to his desk. Collecting a few scrambled papers on various past assignments, he added, "I'll give you time to think about it, but get back to me in about a week, okay? Talk it over with Lightning, and let him decide for himself."

Bowing, Thunder left his office and walked down the vacant hallway. Opening a window, he summoned his cloud and made a dash for Steel City. He let Robin's words wrap around his mind again, sighing to himself. He kept a somewhat tight leash on Lightning before the Brotherhood incident and loosened his grip completely for missions apart from each other. Thunder knew Lightning was courageous and a noble warrior, and he had the right to worry about him, but perhaps his concerns were too exaggerated as Robin believed they were. Thunder slowed to a crawl on his cloud, humming to himself as he looked over his shoulder to see Titans Tower in the distance.

What did he mean by losing his own brother? I always assumed he was an only child, Thunder mused to himself and sat stubbornly on his cloud. Lying down, he spread his arms out so they would flop over the edges of his soft, fluffy ride. I worry far too much. I spend hours upon hours fretting over my brother. I was not like this before. No, I was not. I believe my head is becoming too full with frightening notions. He is Lightning, my brother, and even though we are apart, he must be all right.

Thunder's eyes crossed the night sky once more, finding the silence to be unfamiliar and eerie. He would have loved to hear his brother's scratchy laughter or even the hum of an airplane shooting by overhead. He would go to his brother tomorrow and propose Robin's offer, and he wanted too, they would go together to learn about life on the ground and "people skills."

We will be fine now, brother? We will be all right? You are all right, yes? Yes?